Lay-figure for garment displays



April 21, 1936. I B. LINZ I LAY FIGURE FOR GARMENT DISPLAYS Filed Sept.26, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 21, 1936. B LINZ 2,038,372

LAY FIGURE FOR GARMENT DISPLAYS Filed Sept. 26, l953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J0ai Z F l I17 Im efl Zo/ li r/Mara l/hz Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 26, 1933, Serial No. 690,981In Germany August 3, 1933 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a construction of layfigure for the display ofgarments, cloth and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a lay-figure which may beemployed universally for the display of ladies, mens and childrensgarments, whether in a single piece or comprising several pieces.

A further object of the invention is to provide alay-figure in which thevarious parts may be adjusted and formed into various shapes andconfigurations to produce any desired eifect in the display of thegarment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lay-figureadapted for the display of different sizes of garment.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lay-figure whichmay be employed for the display of head gear, that is hats or caps andthe like, simultaneously with garments.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means wherebygarments may be held in position on a lay figure without causing damageto such garments.

Further objects and advantages of the invention Will be apparent fromthe description as it proceeds.

The lay-figure according to the invention may be built up of body partsof substantially flat,

sheet or plate material to which are appended Wire-like, rigid orflexible members forming the limbs of the lay-figure and may furthercomprise a shoulder plate or shoulder plates upon which the garment ishung. The shoulder plate may be surmounted by a device for the displayof millinery, and this may comprise a plurality of deformable linearelements adapted to be shaped to a form suitable for the display of agiven article thereon.

In order that the figure may be adapted for sitting or recliningpostures it may be supported on an upright which swivels about a pointclose to the base. The upright may also be divided so that a lowersection may be removed and the devicethus enabled to take up a sittingposture on a chair or the like.

The various parts of the figure may be removed or adjusted to suit theparticular effect it is required to produce. 7

In order that the invention may be clearly understod, an example thereofwill now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:-

Fig. 1 is a front view of the lay-figure for .55 standing or uprightexhibits.

Fig. 2 is a side View of the same lay-figure.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the pedestal of the lay-figure.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the hip plate.

Fig. 5 is a detail. 5

Fig. 6 is a side view of the lay-figure adjusted for reclining exhibits.

Fig. '7 is a side view' of the figure for sitting exhibits.

Fig. 8 is a detail. 10

Figs. 9, 10, and 11, are front views, each showing different positionswhich may be given to the arms.

Referring first to Fig. 1, 30 denotes the pedestal of the figure. Thispedestal may have any de- 15 sired form and may be made in one piece orThe support 3| is The conbuilt up from several pieces. screw threadedinto the pedestal 3U.

,nection of the support to the pedestal may also 7 be made in otherWays, preferably however so 20 that the connection is easilydemountable. Arranged telescopically within the support 3| (which, forthe purpose of rigidity, is arranged screw 33. On the part 32' of thesupport 3| there is provided a bracket 34 which may be constructed so asto be detachable; on the bracket 34 is provided a back plate 35 whichextends parallel to the support 3|. The back plate 35 carries the bodystructure 38 comprising a plurality of parts of substantially flat,sheet or plate material which are relatively adjustable thereon ashereinafter described. The rod 32 carries at the top a forwardlyadjustable arm 32 to which a curved member 36 is fixed. Around the hipplate 38, which may be entirely or partly covered with cloth or othermaterial, a rubber band or the like is is stretched. The adjustable arm32'' may also be provided with a price ticket device I5. The priceticket may be variable in position.

The rod 3| is subdivided into the rods 3| and 32. The rod 3| ispreferably provided, near the pedestal so, with a swivel joint 31. Asillus- 45 trated, this latter may consist of a slot and pin connectionfor adjusting the rod 3| in one plane, but may also consist of aball-and-socket joint With one or more preferably hand-operated setscrews for the purpose of adjustment in all 50 planes.

As will be better seen in Fig. 2, there is arranged on the support 3! astrut l6 which comprises a tube I! and a rod l8. The tube I! is providedwith clips l9 which are easily releasable.

The strut l6 can be shortened by displacing the rod I8 inwardly.

The body structure 38 with or without an adjustable bust extension 39,40 consists, as can be seen from Fig. 4, of two parts 4| and 42. Strips|4 provided with a dove-tailed groove are attached to both parts. Thecorrespondingly shaped strips 26 provided on the rod 35 engage in thegrooves. The body parts 4| and 42 are fastened in position by means ofknurled screws 2|. At the top of the body parts 4! and 42, shapings 22are provided which can be adjusted forwards and backwards by means ofknurled screws 23.

On the rod 32 there is fixed a square sleeve 6, in which a square rod 5is arranged so as to be adjustable and fixable. The rod 5 carries asquare sleeve 3 in which the square rod 24 is arranged so as to bedisplaceable and fixable. On the rod 24 there is fixed the curvedtransverse rod 36. On the latter are provided the shoulder plates l0 andII. Underneath the shoulder plates |0 and H is arranged a plate 21 whichconforms to the curved shoulder member 36 and serves for covering theseams and also the number markings etc. of the wearing apparel, so thata clean and decorative cut of the neck is obtained. A wire 43 simulatingan arm is provided insertable by means of a pin I2 in a sleeve I2 at oneend of the rod 36. This consists, as can be seen from Fig. 5, of a coreof soft material, such as copper, around which is wound brass or otherwire. The wire is rigidly connected to the core at its lower and upperends, so that the wire 43 can be bent into any desired position and bentback again. In the same way, a wire 44 is connected to the rod 36 at theother end. The Wire 44 may be constructed like 43 or it may be rigid.Around the wire 44 is wound a further steel wire 44' which may reproducethe outline of an arm. The member 45 is constructed in like manner tothe member 44 to simulate a leg, whilst the member 46 corresponds inconstruction to that of the arm 43. The members 45 and 46 may bedetachable. On the adjustable arm 32" a ball 3 is detachably mounted ona plug 4 in a sleeve 5. The ball 3 carries a number of wires 2 which areconstructed in a similar manner to the wire 43.

Fig. 6 shows the lay-figure adjusted for reclining displays and isprovided with the same reference characters as the figures hereinbeforedescribed. As can be seen, the swivel joint 31 is bent downwards and thestrut l6 on the rod 3| moved to a greater distance from the pedestal 3D.This can easily be effected by the clip-shaped fixture Hi.

In Fig. 7, which illustrates the figure adapted for sitting displays,the lay-figure is arranged on a chair 25. As can easily be seen, thepart 3| of the support 3| has been removed.

Fig. 8 shows a ball-and-socket joint which may be employed at the bottomof the rod 32.

The display is arranged, for instance, in the manner hereinafterdescribed.

If a mantle or fur coat is to be exhibited, it is placed with its collararound the transverse arm 36. The arm portions 44 and 43 are passedthrough the sleeves of the cloak and bent into the shape in which it isdesired to represent the arms. The body structure 38 is shifted to thatdistance from the transverse arm 36 which is suitable for the naturalrepresentation of the shape of the body. The rear part of the fur coatis introduced into the intermediate space between the plate 35 and thesupport 3|. The other parts of the lay-figure are generally not employedin the case of cloaks or mantles.

In a one-piece dress with long sleeves, the display is arrangedinitially in the same manner; however, the clamping devices 49 areemployed in this case, in order to produce and retain the correctcontour from the waist downwards. The hem of the skirt can be firmlygripped at the lower ends of the leg portions 45, 46. The members 45, 46can be deformed into any desired configuration to simulate true-to-lifeshapes of the lower part of the garment.

In the case of two-piece garments, the skirt is first of all fixed uponthe structure 38 by means of the rubber band 48 and, as has already beendescribed, is given the desired outline by means of the deformablemembers 45, 46. The blouse, pullover or other garment completing thetwopiece ensemble is placed over the arm 36, and, if provided withsleeves, over the wire arms 44, 43, and is fixed by means of theclamping device 49. A jacket is dealt with in the same manner as ablouse.

In this manner, it is possible by means of a single device or a numberof similar devices, to display plastically the most varied garments ofany size and shape. The use of pins or other devices which may damagethe materials is strictly avoided.

However, sitting, standing and reclining displays are all possible withone and the same layfigure. In addition, by the lateral adjustment ofthe body parts 4!, 42, the display of wearing apparel of any desiredwidths can be effected. The band 48, preferably of rubber, serves forfixing the lower part of a garment consisting of two or more pieces.Owing to the adjustability of the body structure, the band is preferablyprovided with a buckle 48. Behind the body structure 38 there areprovided springs 53 with rods 49 fixed thereto. The rods, which arepreferably round, and also the springs may be covered with cloth orother padding material for the protection of the displayed garments.

These have the function of firmly clamping the garment arranged on thehip plate, so that no pins are required. The forward adjustability ofthe arm 32 has for its main object to produce a better shape ofgarmentsprovided with furs.

The adjustment provides a greater space behind the transverse arm 36 forthe various sizes of fur collars thus preventing damage to them.

The many adjustments, i. e., the adjustment of the body structure 38upon the rod 32 by means of the bracket 34, the adjustment of the sides(4|, 42) towards and away from one another, the backward and forwardadjustment of the arm 32", and the bust portions 22, enable all types ofgarments to be displayed.

By rotating the support 3|, illustrated in Fig. 6, by the display ofgarments in side view can also be effected.

In the lay-figure as shown in Fig. 7 the lower part of the garment isplaced over the front edge of the chair so that the garm nt of a.sitting person is imitated. In order to imitate a person sitting on theground, a ball-and-socket joint such as that shown in Fig. 8, may beprovided between the rod 32 and the pedestal 30, it then being possiblealso to imitate a person whose legs are stretched sideways.

The wires 2 may be given any desired shape, so that a large. number ofsupporting points are provided for the head covering. Any deformation ofthe hats which otherwise occurs particularly in the case of hats ofdelicate material is thus avoided. A coiffure can also be simultaneouslydisplayed.

The side edges of the body parts 4|, 42 may be of any desired shape, sothat ladies and also gentlemens garments can be displayed.

For gentlemens garments, the body parts are preferably made of the shapeshown in dotted lines (41).

Finally, it is preferable to provide several pairs of arms 43, 44 foruse alternatively with each layfigure. For instance, three pairs ofarms, may be provided which are curved in two planes, as shown in Figs.9 to 11. They present a curvature as seen from the front and a furthercurvature as seen from the side. In this manner, the layfigure can beused in many different ways and, above all, small firms which do nothave trained dressers at their disposal, are enabled, by interchangingthe three pairs of arms provided, to obtain harmonizing and anatomicallycorrect effects, which enhance the sale value of the garments displayedon the lay-figure.

It is apparent that the limb members 43, 44, 45 and 46 may beconstructed of wire, rod or tubelike material and the invention is notconfined to the use of the stay-put flexible material, the constructionof which is described with reference to Fig. 5. In the appended claimstherefore the term wire-like is intended to refer to material of rod,wire or tube form having the essential characteristic that it is slenderand may be given the natural pose of a limb.

I claim:

1. Lay-figure for garment displays comprising an upright, a bracketsupporting a back plate mounted upon said upright, complementary bodyplates adjustably mounted on said back plate, means on said back platecomprising a spring clip for retaining a garment in position on saidbody plates, a shoulder plate mounted on said upright, arm membersdepending from said shoulder plate and leg members depending from saidbody plates.

2. Lay-figure for garment displays comprising i an upright, abracketsupporting a back plate movably arranged on said upright, meansfor retaining said bracket at any desired position on said upright, aplurality of body parts of substantially flat, sheet or plate materialmovably arranged on said back plate and means for retaining said bodyparts in any desired relation to form a substantially flat trunkstructure of the required dimensions, a shoulder member also mounted onsaid upright and means for retaining said shoulder member in any desiredposition relative to said body parts to complete a torso of the requireddimensions, arm members of wire-like material depending from saidshoulder member and leg members of wire-like material depending fromsaid trunk structure.

3. Lay-figure for garment displays comprising an upright, a bracketsupporting a back plate movably arranged on said upright, means forretaining said bracket at any desired position on said upright, aplurality of body parts of substantially fiat sheet or plate materialmovably arranged on said back plate and means for retaining said bodyparts in any desired relation to form a substantially flat trunkstructure of the required dimensions, a shoulder member also mounted onsaid upright and means for retaining said shoulder member in any desiredposition relative to said body parts to complete a torso of the requireddimensions, arm members of stayput flexible wire-like material dependingfrom said shoulder member and leg members of stayput flexible wire-likematerial depending from said trunk structure.

4. Lay-figure for garment displays comprising an upright, a bracketsupporting a back plate movably arranged on said upright, means forretaining said bracket in any desired position on said upright,supporting members on said back plate, a plurality of plates providedwith guides and displaceably supported thereby upon said supportingmembers, means for retaining said body plates in any adjusted positionon said back plate to form a substantially flat body structure of therequired dimensions, a shoulder member, a rod supported horizontally onsaid upright and displaceable horizontally relative thereto supportingsaid shoulder member and means for retaining said rod with said shouldermember in any adjusted position, to complete with said body structure atorso structure, arm members of wire-like material depending from saidshoulder member, and leg members of wire-like material depending fromsaid body structure.

5. Lay-figure for garment displays comprising an upright, a plurality ofbody parts of substantially fiat, sheet or plate material movablysupported on said upright, means for retaining said body parts in anydesired relative positions to" said upright being articulated near itslower end,

a strut supporting said upright above the point of articulation, abracket supporting a back-plate movably arranged on said upright, a setscrew for locking said bracket in any desired position on said upright,a pair of substantially flat body parts mounted on horizontal guides, onsaid back plate, means for retaining said body parts in any desiredhorizontal adjustment on said back plate to form a substantially flatbody structure. of the required dimensions, shaping members mounted onsaid body parts, a shoulder member movably arranged on said upright andmeans for retaining said shoulder member in any desired positionrelative to said body parts to form therewith a torso structure of therequired dimensions, a millinery display device surmounting saidshoulder member and means for retaining a garment in position on saidfigure.

7. Lay-figure. as claimed in claim 6, wherein a spring clip is providedon said back plate to retain a garment in position thereon.

BERNHARD LINZ.

